Another jumbo carcass exhumed in Athagarh, fourth this month

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Amid a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into incidents of elephant deaths cover-up in Athagarh, one other jumbo carcass was recovered by the forest officers from the division on Monday leaving the division red-faced.This is the fifth elephant carcass recovered from the division since February and fourth this month.

A crew of Athagarh forest division exhumed the carcass from Mandap reserve forest of Kusapal beat in Gopapur part, in Baramba vary, in presence of SIT members, who had been on a spot go to to the world to research the restoration of three carcasses, two male and a feminine, by the Special Task Force of Crime Branch and Forest officers earlier this month.

“We have not been able to determine the exact age and sex of the carcass which appears to have been buried at the spot two years back. The samples have been sent to OUAT lab for examination,” mentioned Angul RCCF M Yogajayanand, who’s heading the SIT.  The Angul RCCF assured an intensive probe by the SIT into this matter.

Athagarh Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav mentioned no tusks had been discovered on the spot. He additionally mentioned that age of the elephant is alleged to be round 40 years. “The exact age and sex of the elephant will be known after the lab report is received,” Jadav mentioned and added that investigation has been launched to seek out out the accused concerned within the case.Meanwhile, restoration of one other carcass has mounted stress on the SIT that has been requested to submit its report back to the State authorities inside a month.

While that is the fifth elephant carcass recovered from Athagarh space this yr, a carcass exhumed from Jilinda vary of Satkosia Wildlife Division, near Narasinghpur space of the division, has raised extra suspicion about functioning of a large ivory-smuggling racket within the area.Moreover, the alleged involvement of forest employees and officers on this nexus, has made the problem extra essential.Honorary Wildlife Warden of Khurda Subhendu Mallik mentioned the problem must be handled significantly and all vary officers and DFOs who’ve served within the division in final three years be introduced underneath the purview of investigation.